Operation Sideburn: Major police probe launched in crackdown of 'boy racers' in Glasgow city centre

Specialist resources from Police Scotland’s road policing teams have been drafted in to bring dangerous and illegal driving to a standstill in the city centre.

Officers involved in Operation Sideburn are cracking down on distressful driving methods conducted by car enthusiasts – including engine revving, racing, speeding, drifting and wheel spinning.

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The operation came into full force last weekend after the local division received an influx of reports and noise complaints from local residents, guests at hotels and local representatives.

Heading the movement is Glasgow city centre’s Area Commander Chief, Inspector Craig Walker, who says the recent spike of dangerous driving in the area has come with the re-emergence of the night-time economy.

He told the Glasgow Times: “Since the lockdown was eased, we have seen an emergence of car enthusiasts coming back into the city centre that has generated concerns, a number of complaints and our own observations.

“With the re-emergence of the night-time economy and with the footfall increasing in the city centre again we have also seen more vehicles coming in and out of the city.

“While the engines are allowed and the cars themselves are tuned up to be legal for the city centre streets, they can cause distress and can generate a lot of noise.

“We know the reason why this is happening and the issue dates back to around 2010 when there was issues there too – which is when a traffic regulation order was introduced on Blythswood Square.”

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At this current stage of the operation, the team are using communication methods to engage with those flouting the traffic regulation order.

Inspector Walker added: “We’d rather engage with people and try to prevent them from illegal driving and encourage them to abide the law as oppose to forcing legislation onto them.

“Quite often, the vehicles are parked-up so we are able just to walk up and engage with the drivers or occupants.

“We’re using our powers to gather information so we can hopefully engage with individuals to try to influence their behaviour.

“If the traffic regulation order continues to be flouted, we will start to use enforcement.”

Intelligence gathered by officers prior to Operation Sideburn sparked widespread concern for the health and safety of pedestrians in the city centre at the weekends amid the emergence of anti-social driving.

Inspector Walker continued: “I think residents are right to raise their concerns because anyone driving their vehicle on a road that isn’t complying with the traffic legislation can be a danger to pedestrians.

“Some pedestrians are more vulnerable in the city centre particularly at certain times when alcohol is involved. Their concerns are shared from our observations so it is up to us to put enforcement in place to make the city as safe as it can be.”

Inspector Walker’s team will remain in the city centre at the weekends until the problem is eradicated.

The local division hope that members of the public can feel reassured when when they see Operation Sideburn being carried out on the city’s streets.

Inspector Walker concluded: “Hopefully, over a period of time we can reassure people who are concerned that we will be trying to prevent any of these issues happening again by detecting the vehicles and putting measures in place to try to prevent people from driving them recklessly around the streets of Glasgow.

“This is about the public reassurance aspect, we are hoping people in the city centre see the police presence and be reassured that we are doing something about those concerns. Their concerns are being listened to and we are doing something about it.”

• Do you have a city centre story? E-mail ruth.suter@newsquest.co.uk

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